As obsessive readers and fans of dismissing quality movies as inferior to their literary counterparts, it's important for us to know which books will head to the big screen ahead of time. How else will we know how Wild Reese will be, or what is going to happen to Peeta? Be reasonable. We've decided to use our research for the good of society and share the adaptations coming soon that we are most excited for.
1. The Spook's Apprentice - Joseph Delaney (Seventh Son)
Thomas Ward (Ben Barnes) is the seventh son of the seventh son, which gives him the ability to see things that others cannot: ghosts, ghasts, boggarts, and the like. He becomes an apprentice to John Gregory, the Spook (Jeff Bridges). Julianne Moore is set to play Mother Malkin, one of the most sinister witches who uses blood magic, luring young runaway women into care before sucking their blood to maintain her youth, who was then imprisoned by the Spook. Kit Harington and Djimon Hounsou also star.
2. Fifty Shades of Grey - E.L. James
Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, in case you somehow didn't know, are stepping into the roles of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey for the adaptation of the incredibly successful erotic novel. Steele, a literature student, interviews Grey as a favor to her roommate, but quickly becomes entranced by this brilliant and handsome man who is unable to resist her. He admits his desire, but on his own terms; this is a man with a need to control everything. This is also probably going to be the movie with a bunch of heavy-breathing sweaty middle-aged women trying to control themselves in the theater. You've been warned.
3. In the Heart of the Sea - Nathaniel Philbrick
The last time Ron Howard and Chris Hemsworth teamed up, they brought us one of the best films of 2013, Rush. Now, they're at it again (along with Cillian Murphy and Benjamin Walker) with this story of a whaleship attacked by one angry whale, leaving the crew shipwrecked and stranded for 90 days, thousands of miles from land. The true story inspired a little book by Herman Melville (played in the movie by our favorite, Ben Whishaw) entitled Moby-Dick.
4. The Price of Salt - Patricia Highsmith (Carol)
W. W. Norton &amp; Company
Patricia Highsmith, author of successful novels-turned-movies like Strangers on a Train and The Talented Mr. Ripley (we're choosing to ignore the recent The Two Faces of January here), wrote The Price of Salt, which will be released as 'Carol.' The novel itself, controversial for its lesbian content and unprecedented gay happy ending, is said to have inspired Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita. The film stars Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Sarah Paulson, with Far From Heaven and I'm Not There director Todd Haynes helming.
5. Dark Places - Gillian Flynn
Shaye Areheart Books
Gone Girl author brings us yet another chilling thriller. A young girl is the sole survivor of a massacre that leaves both of her sisters and her mother dead in an apparent Satanic cult ritual. She testifies against her brother, but 25 years later, she begins to investigate the actual events. Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Nicholas Hoult, and Christina Hendricks star.
6. A Walk in the Woods - Bill Bryson
HarperCollins Publishers
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants director Ken Kwapis is set to direct Bryson's memoir, starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. The hilarious book describes Bryson's attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail with his friend Stephen Katz. Emma Thompson and Parks and Recreation's Nick Offerman will also star.
7. Insurgent - Veronica Roth
As conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows, a war looms for Divergent's post-apocalyptic Chicago. In this sequel, we're still following Shailene Woodley and Theo James' Tris and Four as they try to understand the reasons for Erudite's insurrection and obtain information the Abnegation are trying to protect. Kate Winslet, Zoë Kravitz, Ansel Elgort, and Miles Teller return in their supporting roles, and are joined by some all-star names: Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, and Suki Waterhouse.
8. Serena - Ron Rash
The dynamic duo of mega-nominated movies Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle are back at it! Bradley Cooper plays a man trying to maintain his timber empire during the Depression, while Jennifer Lawrence plays his wife who discovers she can't have children. For some reason, we're a little terrified of JLaw in this movie from the trailer.
9. Silence - Shusako Endo
Taplinger Publishing Company
This 1966 novel about a Jesuit missionary sent to 17th century Japan where he endures persecution is set to be adapted by Martin Scorsese. It will also have an all star cast of Andrew Garfield, Liam Neeson, Ken Watanabe, and Adam Driver.
10. The Longest Ride - Nicholas Sparks
The producers of The Fault in Our Stars, the author of The Notebook, and the hottest Hollywood son around, this movie already has us in love with it. Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson play two lovers and there's a rodeo or something; we don't really know, we were just thinking about how much this movie will make us cry. Time to read the book.
11. Far From the Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
The Hunt director Thomas Vinterberg tackles Thomas Hardy's novel. Carey Mulligan stars as Bathsheba Everdene, a woman who has too many men in love with her and of course rejects them all until she falls for one. Three men, played by Michael Sheen, Matthias Schoenaerts (Rust and Bone), and Tom Sturridge (On The Road), all after this woman: who will she end up with? We actually just read the plot description and had everything spoiled and somehow still gasped and cried at those three paragraphs. Why didn't we know about this book before?!
12. Paper Towns - John Green
Dutton Books
The Fault in Our Stars author John Green's next book to be adapted by the same team who adapted TFIOS (Scott Neustadter &amp; Michael H. Weber). Margo and her adventures are legendary at her high school, and Quentin ("Q") has always loved her for it. Margo climbs through his window and demands he take an all night road trip of revenge, but when she goes missing the next day, Q realizes she's left clues for him and promptly hits the road again in search of her. Cara Delevingne will play Margo and TFIOS' Nat Wolff will play Q.
13. The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge - Michael Punke
Carroll &amp; Graf Publishers
Academy Award-nominated Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman, 21 Grams, Biutiful) is set to direct Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy in this adaptation. Partially based on the life of fur trapper Hugh Glass. Leo will play Glass, who is mauled by a bear, then later robbed and left for dead by his companions. He survives and sets out for revenge against those same men.
14. The Secret Scripture - Sebastian Barry
Faber and Faber
A one-hundred-year-old woman, Roseanne McNulty, in a mental hospital for about 50 years decides to retrace her history. As the hospital faces demolition and he must choose which of his patients should be transferred and which should rejoin the community, Dr. Grene also tries to discover her history. What they find is very different, though there are some consistencies. Vanessa Redgrave and Rooney Mara will play Roseanne McNulty, Eric Bana will play Grene, with Theo James also starring.
15. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
Penguin Classics
An oft-adapted novel, Mary Shelley's classic is to be turned into yet another film, this time directed by Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin, Push). The updated version, titled Victor Frankenstein, will be told from the perspective of the doctor's assistant, Igor. The film will explain how the doctor became the man who created the legendary monster. Daniel Radcliffe will play Igor and James McAvoy will play Victor Frankenstein.
16. The Martian - Andy Weir
Crown Publishing Group
Described as Cast Away meets Apollo 13, the novel follows an astronaut stranded on Mars, fighting to survive (which also sounds mildly like Gravity to us, no?). Ridley Scott is set to direct a pretty stellar (no pun intended) cast here: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Donald Glover, Kate Mara, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. This sounds like a great movie already, but we'll have to wait until November to see it.
17. The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling
Macmillan Publishers
Walt Disney Pictures is working on this live-action/CGI mash-up of the classic book, directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Chef), with a mind-bogglingly incredible cast. Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Walken, Scarlett Johansson, Lupita Nyong'o, and Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito will provide voices, while newcomer Neel Sethi will play Mowgli.

Oscar-nominated documentary maker Steven Cantor has agreed to complete one day of community service as part of a plea deal relating to an alleged shoplifting incident in November (14). The writer/director of 1994 Academy Award hopeful Blood Ties: The Life and Work of Sally Mann was arrested in New York after a security guard at an Upper West Side Century 21 department store allegedly spotted him switching price tags on a pair of $500 (£333) Dolce & Gabbana jeans with a less expensive pair.
He appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday (29Dec14), when he accepted a plea deal for the petit larceny count, which will be dismissed if he stays out of trouble for the next six months, reports the New York Post.
Defence attorney Eric Franz says, "Prosecutors have agreed to dismiss this case in six months without the need for a trial or any admission of wrongdoing by Mr. Cantor, who maintains his innocence.
"The bottom line is he went to the register and there was a tag that was wrong. He has no idea what the prices are and the clerk said this isn't the tag and he's like 'ok.' He tried on a bunch of jeans but he didn't change any price tags or attempt to steal anything."

Space drama Gravity scooped a handful of top honours at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards on Sunday (16Feb14), including a Best Director prize for Alfonso Cuaron. The sci-fi hit, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as astronauts stranded in outer space, also picked up awards for Best British Film, Best Cinematography, Best Music, and Best Visual Effects.
It was a disappointing night for Oscars favourite 12 Years A Slave - although the drama took home Best Film and Best Actor for Chiwetel Ejiofor, it lost out in a string of other top categories, including Best Supporting Actor (Michael Fassbender) and Best Adapted Screenplay, which was instead awarded to Philomena writers Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope.
There was also no trophy for Ejiofor's co-star, newcomer Lupita Nyong'o, who missed out on a Best Supporting Actress honour to Jennifer Lawrence; she was also denied the Rising Star Award, which went to We're The Millers actor Will Poulter.
Cate Blanchett was named Best Actress for her role in Woody Allen comedy Blue Jasmine, and Captain Phillips star Barkhad Abdi took home the Best Supporting Actor prize, while Dame Helen Mirren was honoured with a BAFTA Fellowship for Lifetime Achievement.
Collecting his Best Director award, Mexican moviemaker Cuaron said, "You can't tell from my accent but I consider myself a part of the British film industry. I've lived in London for the last 30 years and I've done almost half of my films in the U.K. I guess I make a good case for curbing immigration!"
The award ceremony's emotional highlight came as Blanchett dedicated her Best Actress trophy to her late friend Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died earlier this month (Feb14).
She said, "Phil, your monumental talent, your generosity, and your unflinching quest for the truth, both in art and life, will be missed, not only by me but by so many... Phil, buddy - this is for you, you b**tard! I hope you're proud."
The ceremony at the Royal Opera House was presented by Stephen Fry and featured guests including Leonardo DiCaprio, who presented the supporting actress award, Brad Pitt, Uma Thurman, Prince William, Amy Adams, Emma Thompson, and Stanley Tucci.
The list of 2014 BAFTA film award winners is:
- Best Film: 12 Years A Slave
- Best British Film: Gravity
- Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)
- Leading Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave)
- Leading Actress: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
- Supporting Actor: Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
- Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
- Best Original Screenplay: Eric Warren Singer, David O. Russell (American Hustle)
- Best Music: Steven Price (Gravity)
- Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki (Gravity)
- Best Editing: Dan Hanley & Mike Hill (Rush)
- Best Visual Effects: Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, David Shirk, Neil Corbould & Nikki Penny (Gravity)
- Best Sound: Glenn Freemantle, Skip Lievsay, Christopher Benstead, Niv Adiri & Chris Munro (Gravity)
- Best Production Design: Catherine Martin & Beverley Dunn (The Great Gatsby)
- Best Costume Design: Catherine Martin (The Great Gatsby)
- Best Makeup & Hair: Evelyne Noraz & Lori McCoy-Bell (American Hustle)
- Rising Star: Will Poulter
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope (Philomena)
- Outstanding Debut: Kieran Evans (Kelly and Victor)
- Best Foreign Film: The Act of Killing
- Best Film Not in the English language: The Great Beauty
- Best Short Animation: Sleeping With the Fishes
- Best Short Film: Room 8
- Best Animated Film: Frozen
- Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema: Peter Greenaway
- BAFTA Fellowship for Lifetime Achievement: Dame Helen Mirren

American Hustle and 12 Years A Slave are going head-to-head at the 2014 Golden Globe Awards after landing seven nominations each. The dramatic comedy will go up against Her, Inside Llewyn Davis, Nebraska and The Wolf of Wall Street for Best Motion Picture, Musical Or Comedy.
Its stars Christian Bale and Amy Adams scored a mention for Best Performance In A Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical), while Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper picked up nods for their supporting roles and David O. Russell landed a nomination for Best Director.
The film also picked up a Best Screenplay - Motion Picture nod.
Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave also landed seven nominations including Best Motion Picture, Drama, Best Performance Actor, Drama for Chiwetel Ejiofor, Best Supporting Actress for Lupita Nyong'o, Best Supporting Actor, Drama for Michael Fassbender, Best Director - Motion Picture for Steve McQueen, Best Screenplay - Motion Picture and Best Original Score - Motion Picture for Hans Zimmer.
In the TV categories, some of the small screen's biggest names are going head-to-head for the Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama. Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston, Ray Donovan's Liev Schreiber, Masters of Sex's Michael Sheen, House of Spades' Kevin Spacey and The Black List's James Spader are all nominated.
Meanwhile, The Good Wife's Julianna Margulies, Orphan Black's Tatiana Maslany, Orange is the New Black's Taylor Schilling, Scandal's Kerry Washington and House of Cards' Robin Wright all landed Best Actress in a TV series, Drama nods.
For the Best Television Series - Drama category Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, The Good Wife, House of Cards and Masters of Sex will go up against each other.
Michael Douglas' and Matt Damon's Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra scored three nominations including Best TV Movie Or Mini-series and Best Actor in a TV Movie or Mini-Series for Damon and Douglas.
Lee Daniels' The Butler, which has landed several nominations for the 2014 Screen Actors Guild awards, was completely shut out of the competition.
The 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards, co-hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, will take place on 12 January (14) in Los Angeles.
The nominations were announced by actors Olivia Wilde, Aziz Ansari and Zoe Saldana in Beverly Hills, California on Thursday (12Dec13) and the complete list is as follows:
Best Motion Picture, Drama
12 Years a Slave
Captain Phillips
Gravity
Philomena
Rush
Best Actor In A Motion Picture, Drama
Chiwetel Ejiofor,12 Years a Slave
Idris Elba, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Robert Redford, All is Lost
Best Actress In A Motion Picture, Drama
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks
Kate Winslet, Labor Day
Best Director - Motion Picture
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
David O. Russell, American Hustle
Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Spike Jonze, Her
Bob Nelson, Nebraska
Jeff Pope Steve, Philomena
John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave
David O. Russell and Eric Singer Warren, American Hustle
Best Motion Picture, Musical Or Comedy
American Hustle
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
Wolf of Wall Street
Best Actress In A Motion Picture, Musical Or Comedy
Amy Adams, American Hustle
Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Enough Said
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County
Best Actor In A Motion Picture, Musical Or Comedy
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio, Wolf of Wall Street
Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis
Joaquin Phoenix, Her
Best Animated Feature film
The Croods
Despicable Me 2
Frozen
Best Foreign Language Film
Blue Is The Warmest Color (France)
The Great Beauty (Italy)
The Hunt (Denmark)
The Past (Iran)
The Wind Rises (Japan)
Best Supporting Actress In A Motion Picture
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska
Best Supporting Actor In A Motion Picture
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Daniel Bruhl, Rush
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Best Original Score - Motion Picture
All Is Lost - Alex Ebert
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom - Alex Heffes
Gravity - Steven Price
The Book Thief - John Williams
12 Years a Slave - Hans Zimmer
Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Atlas, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Let It Go, Frozen
Ordinary Love, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Please Mr. Kennedy, Inside Llewyn Davis
Sweeter Than Fiction, One Chance
Best TV Series, Drama
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
The Good Wife
House of Cards
Masters of Sex
Best Actress in a TV series, Drama
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Taylor Schilling, Orange is the New Black
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Best Actor in a TV series, Drama
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Michael Sheen, Masters of Sex
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
James Spader, The Blacklist
Best TV Series, Comedy
The Big Bang Theory
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Girls
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation
Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Lena Dunham, Girls
Julia Louis Dreyfus, Veep
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Best Actor, TV Series Comedy
Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Michael J. Fox, The Michael J. Fox Show
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Best TV Miniseries or Movie
American Horror Story: Coven
Behind the Candelabra
Dancing on the Edge
Top of the Lake
White Queen
Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven
Helena Bonham Carter, Burton and Taylor
Rebecca Ferguson, The White Queen
Helen Mirren, Phil Spector
Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake
Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie
Matt Damon, Behind the Candelabra
Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing on the Edge
Idris Elba, Luther
Al Pacino, Phil Spector
Best Supporting Actress In A Series, Mini-Series, or TV Movie
Jacqueline Bisset, Dancing on the Edge
Janet McTeer, The White Queen
Hayden Panettiere , Nashville
Monica Potter, Parenthood
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie
Josh Charles, The Good Wife
Rob Lowe, Behind the Candelabra
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Corey Stoll, House of Cards
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

The guitar folk icon Bob Dylan used as he attempted to relaunch himself as an electric rock 'n' roll star in 1965 has gone under the hammer for a record-breaking $965,000 (£643,330). The legendary musician strummed the 1964 Fender Stratocaster as he took the stage at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island to perform three new tracks that failed to win over the crowd. The set even prompted some of his acoustic-loving fans to boo.
Dylan left the instrument on a private plane after the disastrous gig, and it was expected to fetch up to $500,000 (£333,330) at auction.
However, bidding at the Christie's New York sale on Friday (06Dec13) was fierce and the item was eventually snapped up for the six-figure sum - a world auction record for a guitar, according to sale officials.
A statement from Christie's specialist Tom Lecky reads: "A tremendous amount of international interest was generated at the time of the sale's announcement, and today's result justifies the mythic status of this guitar in the annals of music history."
The previous record for a guitar was set in 2004, when Eric Clapton's Fender Stratocaster sold for $959,500 (£639,670).
The Christie's auction also featured five Dylan lyric sheets, with prices ranging from $3,000 (£2,000) to $30,000 (£20,000), but only one of the lots managed to sell at a price of $20,000 (£13,330).
The high-profile sale took place a day after an early draft of lyrics for Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run song classic went under the hammer for $197,000 (£131,330).

ABC/Getty
It's tough to be an actress in Hollywood. The pressure to maintain the perfect look and body can be overwhelming. Not to mention, all the other random free radicals that result in some actresses getting cast in television shows or movies over others. That being said, there's still a little magic involved in joining the cast of a series. Some television series might have the perfect cast and last for over 10 seasons or they could be cancelled after a few episodes. Here are a few actresses who seem to be the Typhoid Marys of their respective series.
Lindsay Price
She’s sexy, effervescent, and a more than decent actress. And yet, she’s been attached to so many failed series. She starred in the ill-fated American remake of the hit Britcom Coupling, Rebecca Romijn’s failed hour-long dramedy about a newscaster Pepper Dennis, and a remake of the film The Witches of Eastwick, Eastwick. She also starred with Brooke Shields in the Candace Bushnell Sex and the City follow up Lipstick Jungle as a character named Victory Ford. No joke! She also starred in a multiple episode arc of Jack &amp; Jill.
Sarah Paulson
Did someone say Jack &amp; Jill? Before starring on the wildly popular American Horror Story Paulson starred in multiple failed series including slumming it in the ill-fated WB series with Ivan Sergei and Amanda Peet. Not only was she a series regular on that train wreck, she also starred in a few amazing, yet prematurely canceled, series. American Gothic was an addictive supernatural series about a town full of secrets where Paulson played a mentally challenged girl that died and came back as a vengeful spirit. She also starred in Rob Thomas’ follow up to Veronica Mars, Cupid starring Bobby Cannavale. It was a charming little series about a romance expert meeting the disempowered Greek god. It featured the return to television of Emmy nominee Anna Chlumsky. She was also lead actress on the critically acclaimed Saturday Night Live satire Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Does this mean the magic of The Supreme is keeping American Horror Story on the air?
Jessica Lucas
Lucas starred on the ABC teen drama Life As We Know It. Despite her stunning good looks, she has had a long run of starring in failed series. She played an irritating fiancé on the remake of Melrose Place. She was in the series Friends with Benefits starring the hilarious and dreamy Ryan Hansen which didn't seem to even make it on the air. She was also on the equally obscure CW series Cult. Sadly, Lucas has had equally unfortunate movie roles with films like The Covenant, Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, and the Amanda Bynes/Channing Tatum classic, She’s The Man. Could this curse have been the cause of Bynes’ insanity?
Autumn Reeser
Reeser needs an exorcism, stat! She is the perfect blend of girl-next-door, sunshine, and sex appeal. She steals every scene she is in and can deliver both comedy and drama. However, she has had a string of cursed roles. When her deliciously irritating character Taylor Townsend was upgraded to series regular on The OC, it was quickly canceled. She went on to play The Oracle of Delphi in a modern retake on the Aphrodite myth with super sexy Jaime Murray leading Greek gods in trying to bring love to mortals. She was the only good part of the misguided superhero family dramedy No Ordinary Family. She most recently starred in the quickly cancelled military drama Last Resort with Scott Speedman.
Follow @Hollywood_com
//

Lions Gate via Everett Collection
When we last left our heroes, they had conquered all opponents in the 74th Annual Hunger Games, returned home to their newly refurbished living quarters in District 12, and fallen haplessly to the cannibalism of PTSD. And now we're back! Hitching our wagons once again to laconic Katniss Everdeen and her sweet-natured, just-for-the-camera boyfriend Peeta Mellark as they gear up for a second go at the Capitol's killing fields.
But hold your horses — there's a good hour and a half before we step back into the arena. However, the time spent with Katniss and Peeta before the announcement that they'll be competing again for the ceremonial Quarter Quell does not drag. In fact, it's got some of the film franchise's most interesting commentary about celebrity, reality television, and the media so far, well outweighing the merit of The Hunger Games' satire on the subject matter by having Katniss struggle with her responsibilities as Panem's idol. Does she abide by the command of status quo, delighting in the public's applause for her and keeping them complacently saturated with her smiles and curtsies? Or does Katniss hold three fingers high in opposition to the machine into which she has been thrown? It's a quarrel that the real Jennifer Lawrence would handle with a castigation of the media and a joke about sandwiches, or something... but her stakes are, admittedly, much lower. Harvey Weinstein isn't threatening to kill her secret boyfriend.
Through this chapter, Katniss also grapples with a more personal warfare: her devotion to Gale (despite her inability to commit to the idea of love) and her family, her complicated, moralistic affection for Peeta, her remorse over losing Rue, and her agonizing desire to flee the eye of the public and the Capitol. Oftentimes, Katniss' depression and guilty conscience transcends the bounds of sappy. Her soap opera scenes with a soot-covered Gale really push the limits, saved if only by the undeniable grace and charisma of star Lawrence at every step along the way of this film. So it's sappy, but never too sappy.
In fact, Catching Fire is a masterpiece of pushing limits as far as they'll extend before the point of diminishing returns. Director Francis Lawrence maintains an ambiance that lends to emotional investment but never imposes too much realism as to drip into territories of grit. All of Catching Fire lives in a dreamlike state, a stark contrast to Hunger Games' guttural, grimacing quality that robbed it of the life force Suzanne Collins pumped into her first novel.
Once we get to the thunderdome, our engines are effectively revved for the "fun part." Katniss, Peeta, and their array of allies and enemies traverse a nightmare course that seems perfectly suited for a videogame spin-off. At this point, we've spent just enough time with the secondary characters to grow a bit fond of them — deliberately obnoxious Finnick, jarringly provocative Johanna, offbeat geeks Beedee and Wiress — but not quite enough to dissolve the mystery surrounding any of them or their true intentions (which become more and more enigmatic as the film progresses). We only need adhere to Katniss and Peeta once tossed in the pit of doom that is the 75th Hunger Games arena, but finding real characters in the other tributes makes for a far more fun round of extreme manhunt.
But Catching Fire doesn't vie for anything particularly grand. It entertains and engages, having fun with and anchoring weight to its characters and circumstances, but stays within the expected confines of what a Hunger Games movie can be. It's a good one, but without shooting for succinctly interesting or surprising work with Katniss and her relationships or taking a stab at anything but the obvious in terms of sending up the militant tyrannical autocracy, it never even closes in on the possibility of being a great one.
3.5/5
Follow @Michael Arbeiter
//
| Follow @Hollywood_com
//

Magnolia Pictures
Romantic comedies can be wonderful, and Netflix has plenty of them. But there's nothing like an indie romance because an indie romance don't stop. No, seriously. They just don't quit! They don't care to follow the usual formulas, the guy doesn't always get the girl, and the artsy ending outranks the happy ending every time. So when you're in the mood for a love story with a twist (or with the ocassionally dark moments, or with some seriously intense scenes d'amour), check out any of these indie romance films on Netflix.
Take This Waltz
Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, and Luke Kirby are the lead players in this film and the seasoned actors do fantastic job of carrying this story of a relationship on the outs, as an affair arises. Interestingly enough, Sarah Silverman also has a significant role and delivers a memorable performance as the alcoholic sister of Williams' character. A great romance and a great drama, Take This Waltz is definitely a must-see.
The Other Woman
Based on the novel by Ayelet Waldman, Natalie Portman plays the other woman-turned-wife, turned-step-mother in this 2009 film. Starring alongside Scott Cohen and Lisa Kudrow, the trailer alone will make you totally weepy.
Price Check
Parker Posey is unforgettable in this workplace comedy/affair drama. Totally hilarious and totally bizarre, Posey plays the new boss to Eric Mabius' character whose boring life working in the corporate offices of a supermarket chain gets all shook up when he starts falling for his superior.
Blue Valentine
Only good things can happen when Ryan Gosling teams up with director Derek Cianfrance. This year we got to experience their magic via The Place Beyond The Pines, but back in 2010 Blue Valentine happened and the indie romance genre would never be the same. Gosling and Michelle Williams play Dean and Cindy, and the film follows the two, brilliantly cutting back and forth between their past and contemporary relationship. So intense that it was initially given an NC-17 rating, if you missed this one back when it first came out, do yourself a favor and watch it now!
Nobody Walks
Written by Lena Dunham and Ry Russo-Young, Nobody Walks got lots of attention on the festival circuit last year. Starring Olivia Thirlby and John Krasinsky of The Office, critics raved that the film surged 'with sexuality,' And unlike many films, this drama about a young artist who stays with a family and brings a whole lotta sexual tension with her, women's sexuality is at the center of the narrative and is the very driving force behind the story.
Follow @Hollywood_com
//
More:3 Award-Winning French Films On Netflix10 Obscure Netflix Documentaries5 Life-Changing Documentaries On Amazon
From Our Partners:40 Most Revealing See-Through Red Carpet Looks (Vh1)15 Stars Share Secrets of their Sex Lives (Celebuzz)